Plant for operating motors.



Ptenied Feb. e3, |900.

M. w. uumk.

PLANT FOR OPERATING -NIUTURS (Application `filed Oct. 19, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheetl l.

(No Model.)

FIG. s

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WITNESSES:

TH: Nonms Ferias co., Fumo-ums., wAsmNaToN. n c.

n, 643.156. Y Patented Feb. 13, |900.

` M. w. uulcK. PLANT FUR OPERATING MUTURS.

(Appncagicn fusa bet. 19, 189s.) (No Hndel.)- 2 Sheets-Shel# 2.

www M Atty.

Y TTE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILES lV. QUICK, OF TITUSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

PLANT FOR OPERATING MOTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,156, dated February13, 1900.

Application filed October 19, 1898. Serial No. 693,974. (No model.)`

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILES W. QUIoK,a citizen of the United States,residing at Titusville, in the county of Crawford and State ofPennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and usefulImprovements in Plants for Operating Motors, of which improvements thefollowing is a specification.'

The invention described herein relates to certain improvements inapparatus for pumping oil-wells. In Letters Patent Nos. 595,205 and595,206, dated December 7, 1897, two systems for pumping wells by meansof motors at each well and connected to a central power plant are shownand described. In one of the systems the motors at the wellsft'. e.,cylinders and pistons-fare operated to raise the pump-rods by a iiuidwhich is placed under a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure by thecentral plant. In the other system the motors at the well are operatedby atmospheric pressure,the cylinders of the motors being connected to acentral exhaust plant, whereby a vacuum can be produced on one side ofthe piston of the cylinder, so that atmospheric pressure on the oppositeside of the piston will shift the latter to raise the pump-rods. l

As is well known among oil producers, the

oil will liow into some wells with sufficient v The capacity of otherwells is so limited that the pumps cannot be efficiently run faster thanone or two strokes 0r slower per minute.

The object of the present invention is to provide for the automaticregulation 0f the number of strokes of the pumps in accordance with theproducing capacity of the wells; and in general terms the inventionconsists in the construction and colnbination, substantially ashereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is aview, partly in elevation and partly in section, of thepumping apparatus at each well. Fig. 2 isa sectional elevation of themotor-cylinder and its valve mechanism. Fig. 3 is a side elevation ofthe motor-cylinder. Fig. 4 is a top plan of the cylinder and a sectionalplan of the valve mechanism. Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views, theplanes of section being indicated, respectively, bythe lines o fv, Fig.5 5

4, and VI VI, Fig. 5.

In the practice of my invention the piston 1 of the motor-cylinder2 isconnected in any suitable manner to the pulnp-rod, extending down intothe well to be pumped. A convenient form of such connection consists ofthe pivotally-mounted walking-beam 4, having its endsconnected,respectively,to the pist0n-rod 2L and pump-rod 3. When themotor is connected, as shown, to the pump-rod, the upper end of thecylinder 2 is connected bya port or passage 5 to the valve-chamber whichis also connected by a port 6a and pipe 7 to a suitable source of fluidunder pressure, as a centrally-located air-compressor. (Not shown.) Thevalve-chamber is also connected by a port 8 and pipe or `passage 9 to anexhaust-chamber 10, which is connected to the lower end of the cylinder2 by a port or passage 11 and has an outlet which is preferablyconnected by a pipe 12 to the inlet of the air-compressor. The innerwall of the valve-chamber is formed with groovesV or recesses 13, 14,l5, and 16, the grooves 13 and 16 being in communication with the` andwhen shifted to the opposite end of its' stroke the groove or recess 19will connect the ports 5 and 8, so as to permit the iiow ofHuid-pressure. from the cylinder. It is preferred to effect thelongitudinal movements of the valve by means of Huid-pressure; but itsmovement may be effected in other ways, which will readily suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art. To effect the longitudinalmovement of the valve" by duid-pressure, longitudinal grooves 2l and 22areformed in the Valve, extended, respectively, `from the peripheralgrooves 18 and 20 toward the ends IOO of the valves. These grooves 21and 22 are arranged in different radial planes an angular distance apartcorresponding to the rotation imparted to the valve, as hereinafterdescribed. By the rot-ation of the valve the grooves 21 and 22 arebrought alternately into register with grooves 23 and 24, formed in theinner wall of the valve-chamber adjacent to its ends, as clearly shownin Fig. 5. These grooves do not extend to the heads of thevalve-chamber, and in order to connect them with the spaces between theends of the valve and the heads of the valve-chamber notches 21a and222L are formed at the ends of the valve in line with the grooves 21 and22, as shown in Fig. 5. In order `to exhaust the air from the ends ofthe valve-chamber,

ports 25 and 26 are formed in the valve in such manner as to vconnectalternately the axial opening in the valve with the grooves 23 and 24 inthe Wall of the valve-chamber. The port 25 at one end is arranged inline with the groove 22 at the opposite end of the valve and the port 26in line with the groove 21. The'axial opening in the valve'is inconstant communication with the exhaust-port 8 by a vport 27 in thevalve. It will be understood by reference to Figs. 5 and 6 that if the"and notch 21a to the left-hand end of the valve-chamber and shift thevalve .to the right.

The rotation of the valve is effected by a stem 27, provided with a heador enlargement 28, projecting into a recess in the end ofthe valve, yasshown in Figs. ltand 5. lA lever 29 is secured to the outer end of thestem, and on its outer `endisloosely mounted a sleeve 30. A rod 31,which is connected to the piston-rod 2, passes loosely through thesleeve and is provided with adjustable shoulders 32 and 325, adapted tostrike against the sleeve, and thereby shift the valve on its axis.While this construction of valve mechanism has'been found torb'eespecially effective, any other form or construction of valve mechanismadapted to be controlled by the movements'of vthepiston to control theflow of fluid to and from the cylinder may be employed'for that purpose.

ber 10 and the cylinder is vcontrolled bya valve which is constructed toremain lnor mally open, so as to allow an unobstructed` or suddenlyincreased by reason of a quickl movement of the piston. While any ccn-The same :movement struction of valve mechanismadapted to operate in themanner stated may be employed, the form shown is preferred. This valveconsists of a disk 33, pivotally mounted in such relation to the port orpassage 11 that when moved to its seat l'low of Huid-pressure to thecylinder is prevented. This valve is, held normally open by any suitablemeans-as, for

example, by a weight 34, secured to its outer 4may be regulated bya plugor other suitable v In order to pre'- formof valve in the pipe 9. ventthe valve 33 from being clogged by oil or by the freezing of condensedfluid, a trap 37, provided with a valved outlet-pipe 37,is formed in thevacuum-chamber 10, as shown.

The operation of'myimproved pumping apparatus when employed inconnection with a vacuum system,as described in Letters Patent No.595,205, is as follows, the several parts of the apparatus being in theposition shown in the drawings-'t'.- e., the pump-rods being raised yandthe regulating valve 33 open'to permit the escape of iiuid from thelower end of the cylinder: As soon as the piston reaches the lower limitof its stroke or approaches thereto oneof the collars or shoulders, as32, on the rod 31 will strike the .lever 29, so-as .to shift the valve17 axially, thereby openingthe exhaust-ports at-'one end of thevalve-chamber and opening the inlet-ports at the opposite end, so as toshift valve 17, and thereby cut off the flow of fluid-pressure to thecylinder and connect the same to the exhaust-port 8. If-the wellproduces with sufticient rapidity Vto-keep the pump-barrel full, noregulation of the downward movement of the pump-rodsIand upward movementof the pistonactuated by said rods is necessary other than that effectedby the liquid in the well. In awell of such capacity the liquid being atnearly a constant height will buoy up the piston of the pump-barrel, andtherebyprevent such a rapid movement of the piston in the mot'or-cylinder as would aifectthe regulatingvalve -In other words, the-movement ofthe 4piston 'of the motor-cylinder when actuated by the descendingpump-rods in a rapidly-produ cing well would be so slow that'the Theconnectionbetween the vacuum-cham-` inflowing Huid would not affect thevalve 33, the latter being Vso weighted vor otherwise yieldingly held asto hold it open under'such conditions as against the inflow oftluidfcaused by the upward movement'of the piston.

It is characteristic of vthemovement ofthe pump-rods in wells which donot produce with sufficient rapidity'to maintain-a nearlyconstant'heightof liquid in the pump-barrel of IOO IIO

the well that the downward movement of the pump-rods until the piston ofthe pump-barrel strikes the fluid is rapid, resembling a plungingmovement. This plunging through the unfilled spacein the pump-barrel,the extent of which is dependent upon the rapidity of flow of liquid inthe well, will produce a similar quick plunging movement or jump of thepiston of the motor-cylinder. This jump of the piston 1 will produce avacuum in the lower end of the cylinder, and thereby cause Aan inrush ofiiuid past the regulating-valve 33. This sudden movement of the iiuidwill shift the valve 33 to its seat, and thereby check any inward iiowof iiuid into the cylinder,

so that the further upward movement of thel piston will be resisted byfluid-pressure on top of the same.

-As it is not desired to wholly prevent or check the complete downwardmovement of the pump-rod, the regulating-valve 33 or its seat is leftrough or unfinished or otherwise so constructed as to permit when thevalve is seated a slow flow of fluid from one end of the cylinder to theother, or provision may be made for effecting the same approximateequalization of pressures on opposite sides of the piston by any othermeans known in the art whereby the portions of the cylinder on oppositesides of the piston may be connected.

As soon as the dropping pump-rods cause the motor-piston to com pleteits reverse stroke the valve 17 is shifted, admitting fluid to thepressure side of the piston. The resultant lifting stroke of the pistonincreasesthe dens-v ity of the fluid in the vacuum end of the cylinderand the automatic or governing valve 33 is opened and not again closeduntil by successive lifting strokes the accumulated product gathered inthe bottom of the well is exhausted, and the working or pump barrel doesnot fill. The weight of the descending pumprods, increased by thesuperincumbent weight of liquid in the well-tubing, which is supportedby the movable or working valves in the pulnp-barrel,causes a rapid orplunging movement of the piston, and fluid violently rushes into thevacuum end of the cylinder and closes the automatic valve 33 by reasonof a reversal of the unequal pressures on its opposite sides. This valvemay also be so adjusted that after being closed by the violent inrush ofair or other iiuid it will leave its seat when the superincumbent-liquidsupported by the pumping-valves reaches and is supported by that whichis taken in and partially fills the pumpbarrel, and the vacuum on thevacuum side of the piston is proportionately reduced.

It will be readily understood from the foregoing that by regulating theiniiow of fluid to the vacuum side of the piston l its upward movement,as actuated by the pump-rods, can be accurately controlled.

It is characteristic of my improvement that only the downward movementof the pumprod is regulated, the upward or liquid-lifting movement beingthe same, regardless of the rapidity of production in the well. In otherwords, it is the purpose of my invention to so control or reduce themovement of the motor-piston during the dropping of the pumprods as toallow ample time for oil or other liquid to gather in the well insuliicient quantities to ll the pump-barrel Without in any mannerimpairing the rapidity of the lifting stroke.

I claim herein as my invention- 1. The combination of a motor-cylinder,a piston therein connected to apump, amotivefluid supply to one side ofthe piston, a valve controlling the admission and exhaust of said fluid,a controlling-duid supply to the other side of the piston, and meanscontrolled by the movement of the pump-piston for varying said supply,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a motor-cylinder, a piston therein connected to apump, a motiveiiuid supply to one side of the piston, a valve controlledby the piston for controlling admission and exhaust of said fluid, acontrolling-fluid supply to the other side of the piston, and a valveadapted to be shifted by fluid-pressure for controlling the iiow ofiiuid into the opposite end of the cylinder, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

MILES W. QUICK.

Witnesses:

S. A. SMALL, A. ll/IANDELL.

